Here’s a thought…
“Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”
TAD TOMPKINS
Lopez Park and Recreation District Commissioner No. 5 recount completed
The recount was conducted by hand tally and the recounted results matched the initially certified results. Candidate Christopher "Kit" Ledbetter is ahead of candidate Dan Post by a single vote, consistent with the original tally. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County was notified by the Office
Coastal flood advisory in effect from 4am to 10am Saturday
||| FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ||| Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Seattle WA 145 PM PST Thu Dec 4 2025 San Juan County-Lowlands of Western Whatcom County- Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish Counties- 145 PM PST Thu Dec 4 2025 ...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4
Step aside, Olga Red Gravenstein! The next generation of unique Orcas Island apples is ready for takeoff!
Novel Apples for Orcas! ||| FROM RUSSELL BARSH for KWIAHT ||| For the past five years, Kwiaht botanist Madrona Murphy has been relocating, mapping, and sampling fruits and (for genetic analysis) leaves from orchards planted more than a century ago, with financial support from the Orcas Island Community Foundation and
‘On Screen’ series brings epic performances from The Met: Live in HD and National Theatre Live
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH for ORCAS CENTER ||| The gold standard in opera and live theatre comes to Orcas Island with this season’s On Screen series. Running from now until June, you can view a diverse sampling of the world’s best performers at the height of their careers in productions from
Children’s Holiday Craft Fair at the Library! | ¡Feria de manualidades navideñas para niños en la biblioteca!
||| FROM JENNY DEGROOT for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Please join us for the 12th Annual Children's Holiday Craft Fair on Sunday, December 7th from noon – 2 pm at Orcas Island Public Library. Orcas Island children, ages 6 to 18 years, will be selling original, handmade items priced from
Holiday on the Green returns to Eastsound Village Green on December 6
||| FROM CAREY ESKRIDGE for CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ||| The Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce invites the community to kick off the season at the annual Holiday on the Green Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, December 6 from 4–7 p.m. on the Eastsound Village Green. This beloved island tradition will
OPALCO launches opt-in Renewable Energy Survey to gather member input
||| FROM KRISTA BOUCHEY for ORCAS POWER & LIGHT COOPERATIVE ||| Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) is inviting all members to participate in a newly launched Renewable Energy Survey designed to gather community insight on future energy programs, priorities, and opportunities. As OPALCO continues planning for a resilient, sustainable energy
Council opts for one-year budget
The preliminary budget proposes cuts to staffing, possible changes to County services, and other reductions across department operating expenses. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| This fall, the County has worked to reduce the originally projected $6.6M deficit in the 2026–27 status quo biennial budget. The deficit could have
Severe Weather Shelter now open at dark, 7 days a week
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH |||
Meet Cory Harrington | New housing specialist, with lived experience
||| FROM MEGAN METCALF for ORCAS COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ||| Raised on Orcas Island, Cory Harrington has lived through nearly every form of island housing—employee housing, living aboard a boat, bus life, building a cabin on his parents' property, and ultimately developing raw land for creative housing solutions. Now, as
Orcas artist-blacksmith debuts new works featuring totemic sculptures, handcrafted masks
||| FROM B.J. ARNOLD for ORCAS ARTWORKS ||| Orcas Artworks is pleased to feature artist Steve Gropp during the month of December. The gallery is open daily from 10-4, closing January 1, 2025 for a brief winter break. "I have been a full-time professional Artist Blacksmith here on Orcas since
LWVSJ Observer Corps | County Council December 1- 2, 2025
||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ||| At a public hearing, the county council reviewed the updates to the 2026 and the Six- Year Capital Improvement Plans. The 2026 plan includes environmental stewardship projects like solid waste, culvert replacements, stormwater improvements and creek, beach and wetland restoration
Letter to Editor | Odd Fellows hall Thanksgiving dinner gratitude
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND ODD FELLOWS ||| The Community Thanksgiving dinner at the Odd Fellows Hall was a great success! The Hall was filled with community members and guests to the island. We would like to thank all the organizers and everyone who contributed towards the potluck deliciousness! Special thanks
Jurors excused for December 8 – 12
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| JURY DUTY: December 8-12, 2025 All jurors summonsed for the week beginning Monday, December 8th through Friday, December 12th 2025, are excused. Thank you.
Despite the speed at which it is progressing, AI is getting far too little discussion in Congress
||| FROM THE GUARDIAN by BERNIE SANDERS ||| There is a very real fear that, in the not-so-distant future, a super-intelligent AI could replace humans in controlling the planet. "My staff and I will soon be presenting a very specific set of recommendations to Congress as to how we can
News Brief | DOJ demands info on all state voters, sues WA secretary of state
||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES ||| The U.S. Department of Justice sued Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs on Tuesday over his refusal to turn over a trove of personal information about every registered voter in the state. Hobbs refused in a Sept. 23 letter to DOJ, citing state law
